Chatterbox spoke. At the same moment my heart thudded and trembled. The Fear Resistance skill message flickered before my eyes. I bit the tip of my tongue without thinking. Even if the worst scenario was avoided, it didn’t mean the crisis was resolved. “It seems the imitation that could have approached perfection has been reduced to a mere fake.” “...There’s no perfection in a fake.” I struggled to reply. “A fake is just a fake.” “The fact that my mist has already imbued itself within your body is, fortunately, a small consolation.” That bastard Chatterbox still treated me as a stand-in for the King of Harmlessness. He took a step toward me. With each step the air grew heavier. I exhaled sharply. Ruga Peya merely watched, offering no sign of help. After all, in her current diminished state she couldn’t possibly face Chatterbox. “I will turn your voice back on.” A gloved hand clasped my chin. “It seems I must refine you by less graceful means.” “I will sever both your legs.” His quiet, light voice sent chills crawling across my skin. “I will attach tentacles imbued with white light in their place. But first, perhaps I should replace some of your organs.” The hand moved down, lightly pressing my chest. The Fear Resistance message appeared again. “My mist does not respire through lungs.” “It’s not that it doesn’t at all. Ninety percent through skin and ten percent through lungs. Its lungs are very small.” The King of Harmlessness spoke in a soft feminine tone. “Then I must replace your lungs and entirely renew your skin.” The hand slid upward again, slowly brushing the skin at the nape of my neck and examining the shape of my ear. “I will replace your eyes—remove them and insert new ones. Now open your mouth.” I braced my jaw but Chatterbox’s fingers easily forced my jaw open. I bit down nervously, but only my teeth hurt. “The number of your teeth differs too. This will require considerable work.” “Since the number of arms remains unchanged, I need only sever your hands. What about your bones? They lack flexibility—should I replace them all?” If he replaced me piece by piece like that, what would remain of me? I glared at him fiercely. “If you plan to replace everything, why use me as a base? Why not just create anew?” He shrugged; it would hardly make a difference. At most my skull might survive—yet even its skin and eyes would be replaced. Chatterbox smiled as he faced me. “In full view of those you hold dear.” My heart sank with a thud. That madman. A truly insane bastard. “I thought you said you wouldn’t touch me!” “You can close your eyes, cover your ears. The choice is theirs.” Shhhk, the ropes binding my limbs unraveled. I fell from midair and collapsed to the floor. As I staggered to stand, a square window appeared before me. Divided like a CCTV monitor, its panes displayed multiple waiting rooms. Each was a small chamber with a single chair. Almost none of the chairs remained intact. With trembling fingers I tapped the window showing Yuhyun. The pane enlarged to fill the screen. The chair was reduced to ash—only a faint black stain tinted the floor. I heard Yuhyun’s voice. Bang! His fist pounded the wall. I saw a broken sword lying on the floor. Its hilt was stained with blood. My brother’s hands were coated in it. “I have limited you so you cannot use more than a certain level of strength, lest you kill yourself there.” Chatterbox said. I couldn’t use Azure Flame. Relief mixed with bitterness as I bit my lip. “Yuhyun, calm down. It’s okay.” [What’s okay about it!] My brother shouted as if coughing up blood. Right, it wouldn’t be okay. He’d be so worried it would choke him. My own heart felt scorched. “Still, Yuhyun. Just close your eyes, cover your ears for a moment—” Bang! His fist struck the wall again. A dark crimson flame bloomed around Yuhyun. Far blacker than usual without a hint of blue. The fire roared as if to consume everything in all directions, yet the wall remained unscathed. “...Don’t, Yuhyun. Please don’t.” [Brother! What am I supposed to—] “Yuhyun, I will survive to the very end. ...You know that.” He must have watched without turning his eyes away, from beginning to end. “Not one thing in this has been easy, but I won’t give up. Never have.” Pre-Regression Han Yujin, with nothing at all, also lived on to the end. Even if a Transcendent barred the way, what would it matter? To Pre-Regression Han Yujin the wall of S-Rank Hunters was itself Transcendent. Yuhyun lowered his head. He pressed his hand against the wall showing the screen. I caught a glimpse of tears wetting his eyes—it broke my heart. [...I believe you, brother. But still.] “Yes. I know. I understand.” My jaw clenched of its own accord. Damn Chatterbox, does he think it’s enough if only my body remains? I wanted to shout that detaining me violated our contract, but if my brother were freed I’d be even more worried. He would certainly risk everything to find a way. “I have no reason to extend you any more consideration.” When I glared fiercely, Chatterbox spoke nonchalantly. “That consideration has vanished. Yet I grant you this concession for a final farewell—feel free to thank me.” “...Bullshit. You failed to change me, so now you want to twist my insides this way.” He’d failed to force me to kill my loved ones with my own hands. So now he sought to inflict another kind of pain. The screen split back into multiple panes. I saw Yerim, unsure what to do. I couldn’t help cursing. “Exclude minors! You crazy bastard!” “I fail to understand why you still concern yourself with such trivialities. Death is impartial.” “Why, why? If you give up even that, it’s truly over, you idiot! You’re just letting everyone fall apart!” If you can’t even protect children, it truly is the end. It means society has shattered and hope for the future has vanished. Even setting that aside— “And I am an adult, a guardian.” Though I looked like a wreck. “So Yerim, you may avert your eyes.” No answer came. Yerim turned away, unwilling to show her anguished face. “You needn’t bear this burden. There are still adults around you. No need to feel responsible. That’s natural and right.” It doesn’t mean anything goes for being young. Children have rules and must learn right from wrong. But they need not shoulder adult burdens. They may worry for their protector, but need not feel responsible. “It’s not your fault. Being young is not lacking or wrong. It’s simply a stage of life. So Yerim, for my sake, cover your ears.” Yerim spoke softly. Then Hyuna’s voice came. [I’m watching over you.] Rrrr, Mun Hyun-ah dragged a chair before the wall. She sat and faced the screen calmly. [You, Yerim, look away. It’s okay. Master and Hunter Noah may close their eyes too.] [It’s not that I wouldn’t care what happens to you. Just that I’m more accustomed. And this isn’t a final farewell but my impression as someone who’s seen it. Well done. You’ve suffered much, Han Yujin.] “Thank you. This is not a final farewell either, and I’m glad to have met you, Hyuna.” Before Regression we never spoke properly. After Regression, Hyuna’s presence was truly reassuring. [...I can watch over you too.] Noah said. His face was pale and his eyes trembled, but he met my gaze. Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚·𝔫𝔢𝔱 “You needn’t overdo it.” [I am not a child. I must graduate from fleeing or hiding.] Noah offered a faint smile. I let the corners of my mouth rise too. “Hey, Chatterbox. You mentioning a farewell makes the atmosphere weird.” I don’t intend to end this here. As I grumbled and tried to rise, Song Taewon, who’d stood silently, spoke. [Drawing out time may serve well.] He didn’t elaborate but met my eyes. Perhaps Myeongwoo, the new recruit, or the young chaos, would be devising a plan. But how could they intervene? Chatterbox took time to set the stage and paid the price of being a Transcendent. To oppose him would require equivalent sacrifice. That would be both difficult and costly. “Hm, don’t worry too much.” “You saw it—you know I’m tenacious. I’m sorry for the trouble awaiting when you return.” To resolve this, we’ll need Director Song’s official influence most of all. Other S-Rank Hunters may wash their hands of it, but so be it. “Then I will be fine too. Hyuna, please take care of things with me. Don’t go anywhere.” Yuhyun will pour all his heart into rescuing me, no matter what happens in Korea. At least Seonghan became S-Rank. Peace and Gyeol seemed treated as mere monsters, unseen. I hope they aren’t even watching TV. I stood. My eyes met Seonghyunjae’s. Should I say something? Hmm. “Is there anything you wish to say? You must feel quite stifled. Like being locked in a small cage.” Unable to move and forced only to watch. With his temperament, he must find this unbearably vexing. “At least it’s not boring.” ...His tone was as usual. His expression too, as if nothing were wrong. “Pay the subscription fee. If you’re not bored, you’ll owe me well.” “Of course, anything you ask.” He surely couldn’t be pleased by this. I couldn’t tell if he believed I’d survive or that he could still save me. I could only hope it was the former. I offered a faint smile back into his golden eyes. After all, it ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) wasn’t the first time this had happened. “Anyway, this farewell—” Keeping my gaze on the screen, I stepped forward and leapt. With a swish I grabbed Euny and the Monarch’s Blade and the Wildcat Set, pulling them all into my inventory. At that moment, a dark red tether sliced through the air toward me. Sshk, its blade-like edge tore through my sleeve and scratched my skin. It could have pierced me, but it seemed Chatterbox had deliberately dealt only a grazing wound. I spat and charged blindly. “The more you resist, the more you’ll enjoy it.” Ruga Peya spoke, perhaps because the mist devouring me had receded, floating like a faint ghost. “But I still can’t just stick out my neck!” I struggled; surrendering and waiting for rescue was not my style. Shwa– another tether shot at me. A crimson line slashed across my cheek, my leg, the back of my hand. I could use Euny to block, but Chatterbox had already snatched it once with ease. It was best to keep it stored until the last moment. Thud! This time the tether tripped my foot and I tumbled forward. Stones and twigs bounced around me as I fell. My white clothes were soon plastered with dirt. Soon they’d be stained with blood too. “Won’t you fight back?” A leisurely voice called. I sprang up and flipped him the middle finger. “Damn, called him a bastard and now—” Was there really a dog loose? Fierce snarls came from behind me. I swiveled and faced a pack of grotesque canine monsters charging. I instinctively raised my arm to protect my neck. Canines usually target the neck. Sure enough— One bit into my forearm. I pressed the gun to its head and fired. Bang! Its skull burst apart. It was stronger than me, but not high-rank. So he wanted to torment me for a while. As one fell dead, the others flinched back. I seized the chance to fire again. They dodged, but I wasn’t unscathed. No Euny meant my mana began to run low after just a few shots. I leaped back and reattached my earring. If it got snatched, it’d be a shame—but not irreplaceable. At that moment another tether teleported in and slammed into my leg. As I fell, the monsters pounced. They tore at one leg and dragged me. Another charged my aiming arm. I shoved the gun into my inventory, activated the earring’s barrier, and detonated a bomb. Boom! The blast knocked the monsters off balance. I struggled to my feet and tried to flee, but the bitten leg wouldn’t support me. I collapsed forward, and Chatterbox slowly approached.